Honda replaces leadership of F1 power unit program after Aston Martin's poor showing
Honda names Fukao Yoichiro as new head of its F1 power unit program from October, replacing Tetsushi Kakuda after a difficult 2026 season with Aston Martin.
Amid underwhelming performance under Formula 1's new 2026 regulations, Honda has made a major change in the leadership of its power unit development program. The company has announced that Fukao Yoichiro will take over as Large Project Leader from October 1. Fukao, currently deputy leader, will replace Tetsushi Kakuda, who has led the program so far.
Honda says the change is not a sudden decision but part of a planned transition process to pass on technical skills and experience to the next generation of engineers. The 2026 rule changes have altered the entire shape of power unit development, and further changes are expected from 2027. This is why Honda wants to build a strong development system from the outset, so that the company can produce a competitive power unit going forward.
Honda currently supplies F1 power units to Aston Martin, but the partnership has not delivered the expected results in the 2026 season. Aston Martin's car has lagged behind its rivals on both speed and reliability. Honda's power unit has also faced issues with lack of power and reliability, which has directly affected the team's overall performance.
Aston Martin's position in the points table has also been poor. Until the Spanish Grand Prix, Aston Martin was the only team above new entrant Cadillac in the table. Fernando Alonso has won just 3 points in 2 races, while Lance Stroll has not scored a single point so far. Stroll could not finish the Spanish Grand Prix due to a brake problem. Alonso finished the race but came 17th, two laps behind the winner.
Fukao Yoichiro has a long history with Honda. He has been with Honda since 2002 and initially worked on the development of engine and gearbox control systems. Between 2009 and 2011, he also contributed to Honda's MotoGP program. He then returned to the F1 project, focusing on hybrid system development. He became deputy leader of the F1 project in 2017 and again in 2022. Given this experience, there is considerable hope that Honda's F1 power unit will improve under the new leadership.
